Business News

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Norm Rentz, left, president and CEO of Cannon Hospital, is shown with Donna Anderson, Chief Nursing Officer, and Pam Abercrombie, director of Quality Improvement/Risk Management at Cannon Hospital. Cannon Memorial Hospital recently received a new ISO 9001:2008 recertification after successfully passing an audit of its quality management system (QMS) by DNV Healthcare Inc.

Lake Hartwell named top lake

ANDERSON COUNTY — In the newly released July/August issue of Bassmaster Magazine, B.A.S.S. named Lake Hartwell among the 100 Best Bass Lakes in America. Since the 2012 inaugural ranking, this is the first time Lake Hartwell has made the list.

According to B.A.S.S., “This year’s Bassmaster Classic venue illustrated just how good this lake can be even under the toughest of conditions. Casey Ashley won on the strength of his final-day 20.3 limit, giving him 50.1 over three days. And remember, this was in brutally cold conditions. The spotted bass here have all grown up, and 3-pounders abound.”

This recognition comes on the heels of Lake Hartwell hosting the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, the coldest Bassmaster Classic in the 45-year history of the bass tournament. Donalds native Casey Ashley emerged the victor of the Super Bowl of bass fishing with 50.1 pounds of bass during the three day tournament.

BASS uses a complex system in which to rank the lakes on a national scale, relying heavily on information received from each individual state’s Department of Natural Resources’, B.A.S.S. Nation Clubs in each state, Conservation Directors and a special selection committee appointed by B.A.S.S.

Emerald Circle co-chairs appointed

GREENVILLE — Jean Shew and Tavia Gaddy have been named the 2015 Emerald Circle co-chairs for Greenville and Pickens counties as part of the Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands.

The Emerald Circle is a philanthropic group of visionary women who annually support the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. The Greenville/Pickens group is united with Circles in other counties through a common ideal: helping girls become leaders in their families, schools, churches and communities.

Girl Scouts of South Carolina-Mountains to Midlands serves 22 counties of central and western South Carolina including Anderson and Pickens.

Cannon Hospital renews certification

PICKENS — Cannon Memorial Hospital recently received a new ISO 9001:2008 recertification after successfully passing an audit of its quality management system (QMS) by DNV Healthcare Inc.

In 2012, Cannon was the first and only hospital system in South Carolina to receive the certification. The ISO certification is good for three years. Currently only six other hospital systems in South Carolina are DNV accredited.

In 2009, Cannon left the Joint Commission accreditation program and joined DNV’s accreditation program. DNV’s program uses the National Integrated Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (NIAHO) standards of evaluation. NIAHO encourages innovation within individual hospitals while helping them take advantage of system-wide practices.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) accreditation is an arduous process that tracks the methods which a hospital uses to improve and monitor its delivery of patient care, measures quality, and emphasizes the highest priority of eliminating errors. ISO standards are used to qualify standards in various other fields such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, aerospace, medical devises and healthcare.

Allen Tate Realtors

EASLEY — Jessica Little, Marjorie Yaksich and Mallorie Hubber of Allen Tate Realtors’ Easley and Powdersville office, recently graduated from the company’s Winner’s Edge training. Winner’s Edge is a required real estate training program that includes the latest in national trends, technology, license law, sales and marketing techniques as well as information about the local real estate market.

Also, Judy Messer was Top Listing Agent for Allen Tate Realtors’ Easley/Powdersville Office for May while Yolanda Austin was Top Producer, and The Missy Rick Team was the Top Listing and Producing Team for May.

Coldwell Banker Caine

EASLEY — Coldwell Banker Caine recently recognized its top producing agents in property sales and listings from Easley for the month of April.

Angie Dickmeyer, Kathy Gallamore and Melissa Hall from the Easley office were recognized as the top producing agents based on the total volume of business closed for the month.

Lori Brock, Mary Lou Barnhardt and Heather Parlier from the Easley office were recognized for listing the highest total volume of residential properties in April.

Equity firm eyes local companies

GREENVILLE — Family-owned precision manufacturing companies in Anderson County and Pickens County now have an option should they decide to sell.

Premo Ventures, an equity firm based in Greenville, target baby boomers with manufacturing businesses generating an annual revenue of $500,000 to $5 million, while providing job security for the staff of the companies.

Jason Premo is the CEO of the equity firm, which is designed to acquire small companies, invest heavily in the people and process, and modernize them into advanced manufacturers with strong top-tier customer relationships.

Premo Ventures is made-up of entrepreneurs who have started and managed their own businesses in the past.

Chang joins Baptist Easley board

EASLEY – Dr. Catherine M. Chang has been appointed to the Baptist Easley board of directors, effective June 15. She succeeds Dr. Angelo Sinopoli and will serve a three-year term.

Chang is the Chief Medical Officer of the Greenville Memorial Medical Campus. With an undergraduate degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a medical degree from Loyola University-Chicago, Chang completed a residency in Internal Medical and a fellowship in Critical Care Medicine at the University of Florida.

She has been a member of the GHS Medical Staff since 2005. Since February, Chang has been a member of the MyHealth First Local Steering Committee, working with physician collaboration.

New leader of Baptist Easley Foundation

EASLEY — Zachary Price has been selected as the leader of the Baptist Easley Hospital Foundation. He begins his responsibilities on July 9.

Price is a graduate of West Virginia University and holds a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. He also completed a MBA (healthcare focus) degree from Clemson University. He is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).

Price has worked at Greenville Health System since 2008. He has been Annual Giving/Stewardship Coordinator since 2010 with responsibilities including collaborating with physician and the major giving team, creating marketing campaigns for philanthropic programs, coordinating specials events, and crafting communications.

Philanthropic revenue under his communications leadership increased from $6 million to over $14 million. From 2008-09 he worked as Annual Giving Specialist.

Baptist Easley names top docs

EASLEY — Baptist Easley Hospital honored Dr. David Chang of Easley Internal Medicine as the Cam Underhill Practicing Excellence Physician of the Year for 2014.

Chang was cited for his caring and compassion. Chang is board certified in Internal Medicine. Additionally, he was born at Baptist Easley Hospital 42 years ago.

Dr. Rhonda Todd, also of Easley Internal Medicine, was the Cam Underhill Practicing Excellence award recipient for second quarter of 2015. Todd is board certified in Internal Medicine.

The Cam Underhill Practicing Excellence award, given quarterly, honors physicians for displaying the Baptist Easley Medical Staff Standards of Behavior: Integrity, Compassion, and Competence. The annual awardee is chosen from one of the quarterly recipients.

Cooke comes from Nationwide Insurance where she served clients for over 12 years. Previously, she worked with State Farm for over 15 years.

Cooke is an Easley native and still lives there enjoying time with her four grandchildren and two dogs. Having had such a long career in the insurance industry, Cooke knows the importance of the proper coverage at the right price.

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